The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice

ACT II SCENE IV	The same. A street.
	Enter GRATIANO, LORENZO, SALARINO, and SALANIO
LORENZO	Nay, we will slink away in supper-time,
	Disguise us at my lodging and return,
	All in an hour.
GRATIANO	We have not made good preparation.	5
SALARINO	We have not spoke us yet of torchbearers.
SALANIO	'Tis vile, unless it may be quaintly order'd,
	And better in my mind not undertook.
LORENZO	'Tis now but four o'clock: we have two hours
	To furnish us.	10
	Enter LAUNCELOT, with a letter
	Friend Launcelot, what's the news?
LAUNCELOT	An it shall please you to break up
	this, it shall seem to signify.
LORENZO	I know the hand: in faith, 'tis a fair hand;
	And whiter than the paper it writ on	15
	Is the fair hand that writ.
GRATIANO	Love-news, in faith.
LAUNCELOT	By your leave, sir.
LORENZO	Whither goest thou?
LAUNCELOT	Marry, sir, to bid my old master the	20
	Jew to sup to-night with my new master the Christian.
LORENZO	Hold here, take this: tell gentle Jessica
	I will not fail her; speak it privately.
	Go, gentlemen,
	Exit Launcelot
	Will you prepare you for this masque tonight?	25
	I am provided of a torch-bearer.
SALANIO	Ay, marry, I'll be gone about it straight.
SALANIO	And so will I.
LORENZO	Meet me and Gratiano
	At Gratiano's lodging some hour hence.	30
SALARINO	'Tis good we do so.
	Exeunt SALARINO and SALANIO
GRATIANO	Was not that letter from fair Jessica?
LORENZO	I must needs tell thee all. She hath directed
	How I shall take her from her father's house,
	What gold and jewels she is furnish'd with,	35
	What page's suit she hath in readiness.
	If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven,
	It will be for his gentle daughter's sake:
	And never dare misfortune cross her foot,
	Unless she do it under this excuse,	40
	That she is issue to a faithless Jew.
	Come, go with me; peruse this as thou goest:
	Fair Jessica shall be my torch-bearer.
	Exeunt